Indiana Hunting Regulations

Indiana is a quality whitetail state with some nice state forest access for public lands hunters. Some quality bucks from the southern and eastern zones with a major focus on the Ohio River for big deer. There is also good turkey hunting and shots at waterfowl, small game and birds. The Indiana hunting regulations are pretty easy to interpret and the fees are reasonable. Separate seasons for archery, muzzleloader and firearms help spread out the pressure while providing plenty of opportunity for everyone.

Indiana Hunting License Costs

Resident:

Hunting and Fishing – $25

Annual Hunting – $17

Deer license bundle – $65

Deer hunting – $24

Deer second and additional bonus antlerless – $15

Spring Turkey – $25

Fall Turkey – $25

Waterfowl Stamp Privilege – $6.75

Game Bird Habitat Stamp Privilege – $6.75

Annual Trapping – $17

Non-resident:

Annual Hunting – $80

Youth annual hunting – $17

5 day hunting – $31

Deer license bundle – $295

Deer hunting – $150

Deer second and additional bonus antlerless – $24

You deer bundle – $65

Youth deer – $24

Spring turkey – $120

Youth spring turkey – $25

Fall turkey – $120

Youth fall turkey – $25

Private shooting preserve – $17

Youth private shooting preserve – $7

Annual trapping – $140

Youth annual trapping – $17

Waterfowl Stamp Privilege – $6.75

Game Bird Habitat Stamp Privilege – $6.75

Indiana Hunting Season Dates

Deer:

Youth – September 23-24

Archery – October 1 – January 7

Muzzleloader – December 9-24

Firearms – November 18 – December 3

Special Antlerless – December 26 – January 7

Reduction Zone – September 15 – January 31

Turkey:

Spring – April 25 – May 13

Fall Archery – October 1-29, December 9 – January 27

Fall Firearms – October 18-29

Youth Spring – April 21-22

Small Game and Upland Birds:

Pheasant – Nov 1 – Dec 15, limit 2 per day

Rabbit – November 1 – February 28, 5 each day

Quail – Nov 1 – Dec 15 North (4/day), Nov 1 – Jan 10 South (8/day)

State parks, state forests and designated public hunting areas open up some great ground. Reduction hunts are also used as management tools to prevent deer from overpopulating. The reduction hunts make it possible to harvest several deer each season. You can view a map with all open hunting areas here – https://www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/5427.htm. You can harvest a single deer per license but the bundle license allows for 2 antlerless and one antlered or a total of 3 antlerless. Hundreds of B&C typical and non-typical bucks have come from Indiana. The long archery season and ample access makes this a great state with plenty of opportunity.